Phoenix Shoulder and Knee

P: (480) 219-3342
  • HOME
  • Meet the Doctor
  • Services
    • Shoulder Treatment
    • Knee Treatment
    • Elbow Treatment
    • PRP Therapy
    • Ultrasound Guided Injections
    • Orthopedic Bracing
  • Patient Info
    • Insurance List
    • New Patient Forms
    • Patient Education
    • Pre-Operative Instructions
    • Post-Operative Instructions
    • PT Protocols
    • Surgical Consent Forms
  • Contact
BOOK ONLINE
  • Home
  • Shoulder Surgery
  • FAQs Shoulder Injury from a Top Arizona Orthopedic Surgeon
May 13, 2025

FAQs Shoulder Injury from a Top Arizona Orthopedic Surgeon

FAQs Shoulder Injury from a Top Arizona Orthopedic Surgeon

by afarber / Thursday, 31 July 2014 / Published in Shoulder Surgery

What is the anatomy of the shoulder?

Your shoulder is a ball and socket joint that connects the humerus (upper arm bone) to the clavicle (collarbone) and AC Jointthe scapula (shoulder blade). Because of its configuration, you can freely move your shoulder across a wide range of motion.

The shoulder has four rotator cuff muscles that provide stability to the shoulder joint as it moves. The four rotator cuff muscles (supraspinatus, infraspinatus, teres minor, subscapularis) keep the humeral head centered in the socket of the shoulder joint (called the glenoid fossa).

Your shoulder also serves as an important attachment for numerous muscles that allow the shoulder and arm to move, such as the deltoids, rhomboids, trapezius, among others.

 

What are the different kinds of shoulder injuries?

There are numerous conditions that can affect the shoulder, causing pain and limitation of movement. These can range from slow, degenerative conditions, to acute traumatic injuries. The presentation of these injuries varies with the injury, and it is recommended that you consult with a licensed medical professional if you think you have a problem with your shoulder.

 

Some examples of shoulder injuries are as follows:

  • Tendinitis – Muscles are connected to the bone by tendons. Repeated micro-trauma, wear and tear, and repetitive injury can cause chronic inflammation of the tendons. Acute stressors can also cause injury and inflammation of the tendons. This manifests as pain in the shoulder and limited movement. The rotator cuff tendons are the most commonly affected by this condition.
  • Tendon tears – Tears to the tendon can occur after acute injury, or after progressive degeneration. Tears can be partial or full-thickness, depending on the severity of the injury. Treatment is usually conservative, but surgical intervention is necessary for the more severe cases.
  • Impingement – Soft tissues, such as nerves and tendons, can be pinched against the acromion (the bony top of the shoulder blade), particulacanstockphoto4508802rly when the shoulder is unstable. The pinching causes irritation and inflammation, leading to pain and reduced movement. Repeated irritation can cause tendinitis and bursitis, and can eventually lead to tears over time.
  • Instability – The humeral head can be displaced from the glenoid socket, leading to an injury known as dislocation. The dislocation can be partial or complete, causing pain and damage to the tissues of the shoulder, particularly that of the rotator cuff. Those who suffer dislocations are more at risk for subsequent dislocations
  • Arthritis – There are many kinds of arthritis, but the most common is osteoarthritis, which is secondary to progressive degeneration from wear and tear. This is associated with aging, and if left untreated, may even lead to stiffness and loss of range of motion.
  • Fracture – this is usually after acute trauma to the shoulder joint. They often cause severe pain, swelling and bruising around the shoulder. Any of the bony structures of the shoulder can be fractured. Older patients and those with weak bones are at greater risk for suffering fractures of the shoulder.

 

How are shoulder injuries diagnosed?

You should seek consult from a licensed medical professional if you have problems with your shoulder. The diagnosis of your condition is made after a complete medical history and physical examination, although sometimes, additional imaging studies may be requested to provide a clearer picture of the injury. The commonly used diagnostics are X-rays, Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) and Computerized Tomography (CT) scans.

  • Tweet
Tagged under: FAQs Shoulder Injury from a Top Arizona Orthopedic Surgeon

About afarber

Dr. Adam Farber is a top orthopedic surgeon in Phoenix. Board Certified and Fellowship Trained, he offers minimally invasive sports medicine procedures. This includes knee, shoulder and elbow procedures. Call (480) 219-3342 and visit the website at here

What you can read next

Shoulder Arthroscope
What to expect when going into arthroscopic surgery
Impingement Syndrome Info from a Scottsdale Orthopedic Doctor
I’ve Fractured My Clavicle – When Will I Be Able To Return To Sports?

Why Us?

Why-Us_New

Expert Treatment

Expert-Treatment_New

Patient Info

Patient-Info_New

Recent Posts

  • Why Outpatient Joint Replacement is becoming Popular?

    Over the last few years, the number of outpatie...
  • What Is Tommy John Surgery?

    Tommy John surgery is a very common surgery tha...
  • Solutions For Patellar Instability

    Patellar instability occurs when the patella bo...
  • Orthopedic Bracing for Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

    Carpal tunnel syndrome is a very common conditi...
  • Most Common Injuries In Marathon Runners

    Marathons have gained popularity in recent year...

Join Our Email List for the Latest PSK News!

Why Us?

Top 5 Reasons to Seek Treatment at Phoenix Shoulder & Knee:

1. Board Certified Phoenix Orthopedic Doctor

2. Compassionate Staff

3. Fellowship Trained in Sports Medicine

4. Expert in Minimally Invasive Surgery

5. Offering Regenerative Medicine

Patient Web Portal

Patient Web Portal

From the Blog

  • Why Outpatient Joint Replacement is becoming Popular?

    Over the last few years, the number of outpatie...
  • What Is Tommy John Surgery?

    Tommy John surgery is a very common surgery tha...
  • Solutions For Patellar Instability

    Patellar instability occurs when the patella bo...

Join Our Email List for the Latest PSK News!

Patient Education

- Shoulder Treatment


- Knee Treatment


- Elbow Treatment


- Ankle Treatment


- PRP Therapy


- Ultrasound Guided Injections


- Orthopedic Bracing

Location/Contact

PHONE: (480) 219-3342
FAX: (480) 219-3271

1215 W Rio Salado Parkway
Suite 105
Tempe, AZ 85281

Click on Map for Directions:



Email Us

© 2013-2020 Copyright by US Lead Network. All rights reserved.

TOP Phoenix Shoulder and Knee